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Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Property brokerages trends revealed; offline has higher conversion
The majority of leads for property brokerages come from online sources, but offline sources are still important as they have higher conversation rates, industry executives said on Wednesday. While speaking during a panel discussion at a conference organised by the Khaleej Times, they highlighted the importance of both online and offline marketing and mixing the two in a balanced manner. 'Even though the majority of the leads are coming from online sources, we still have to mention the quality and importance of different offline touch points – referrals, events and networking. These are the leads that really have higher conversion rates,' said Diana Dzaka Bico, Marketing Director, Engel & Völkers. Speaking during a panel discussion at the TRIBE – The CMO Connect 2025 conference hosted by Khaleej Times on Wednesday, she said everything shifted towards digital platforms, not just in marketing during the pandemic. 'That's definitely reflected in real estate, especially on the brokerage side. The lead generation become very focused on online marketing. The majority of leads are coming from offline sources. For brokerage agencies, property portals, social media ads, Google ads, email and WhatsApp are online sources used to generate these leads,' she said during the panel discussion. On the other side, she noted that developers are quite heavily focused on the offline side of marketing such as billboards, events and project launch launches that are happening daily. 'However, in recent years, I've noticed a big shift in terms of their focus on digital marketing and that aspect of lead generation.' She added that offline is important and brokerages should not leave that out of the mix and balance online and offline marketing. Katie Allen, head of advertising and revenue at Khaleej Times, moderated the panel – Let's Talk Billboards, Algorithms & Buyers: Cracking the Code of Real Estate Marketing in 2025. Quoting Ipsos, she said that in 2024, UAE ad spending was Dh9.4 billion. 'Of that enormous amount, Dh1.4 5 billion was spent by the real estate and 79 per cent of Dh1.4 5 billion went towards outdoor advertising,' she added. Sevgi Gur, chief marketing officer of Property Finder, said research showed that there is a huge role of offline when it comes to real estate decisions from the consumer perspective. She pointed out that trust is key in real estate. 'When there is no trust, there is no trade. When consumers see someone spending a huge amount of money on high-impact media, they think that they have the pocket. If you are buying a developer who has that kind of marketing budget, your mind is going to believe that most probably it will deliver what it promised to you. Is outdoor advertising helping them to make the decision? Yes. I don't think that the shift from digital to outdoor is a function of Covid, per se. It is a function of real estate, started growing post-Covid and the ability of developers to launch new products,' she said during the panel discussion. Curtis Schmidt, CEO of RAPP for Mena, said authenticity is not just a campaign, but a commitment. 'Brands that consistently embody their values —especially in times of crisis — are the ones that earn lasting trust. Curtis highlighted how RAPP leverages CRM to help brands turn complex financial messages, such as rate changes or data sharing, into trust-building opportunities. From proactive communication to humanized automation, preparing in a way that is personal, swift, and customer-focused is key to maintaining trust when it matters most,' Schmidt said. Cluttered ads Ahmed El Sherbini, CEO of Think Human, said everything starts with strategy in the beginning, and if there is no clear strategy and a good understanding of the brand, then there will be challenges moving forward. 'It's a very transactional business. It's a very cluttered category. However, it's one of the highest spending categories in the UAE,' he said. 'We still believe in the integrated marketing communication approach. We can still rely on offline and online. Offline has its own kind of KPIs and parameters – the outdoor activation, print ad etc. Digital is more targeted communication for certain consumers with certain messages at a certain time through different platforms. You have to have the data and the insights to be able to reach that,' he said. Think Human's chief executive noted that unfortunately, a lot of ads are very cluttered, whether they're from brokers, developers or individuals. 'You feel that they do not even understand the brand, and the ad is only about price, price, price, price. It's very important to look at the brand whether you're a developer or a broker. By the end of the day, you work for a brand,' he said.
The National
16-04-2025
- Climate
- The National
One year after Dubai floods: How climate change is reshaping the weather and urban landscape
One year ago today, Dubai was brought to a standstill. Cars floated along submerged roads. Malls and schools closed. Flights were grounded. In just 12 hours, 100mm of rain fell – the amount the city typically receives in a year and the heaviest rainfall since records began in 1949. On the first anniversary of the deluge, the question is not whether if it will happen again, but when and how often. Dubai Municipality has responded by announcing this week that it has awarded Dh1.4 billion in stormwater drainage contracts. The contracts fall under the Dh30 billion Tasreef project, Dubai's largest unified stormwater collection system. The projects will serve key areas across the emirate: Nad Al Hamar, the area around Dubai International Airport, Al Garhoud, Al Rashidiya, Al Quoz, Zabeel, Al Wasl, Jumeirah and Al Badaa. They aim to enhance the capacity of the drainage system and increase its discharge capacity by 700 per cent over the next 100 years. The scheme was introduced in the months following the storm and is scheduled to be completed by 2033. Such initiatives aim to change the impact of climate change on the region, with more frequent storms forecast. 'The combination of rising global temperatures and regional climatic shifts suggests that the UAE, including Dubai, may experience similar severe rainfall events more frequently in the future,' Dr Adam Fenech, provost at Canadian University Dubai, told The National. 'This underscores the importance of urban infrastructure and emergency preparedness in mitigating the impacts of such events.' Climate experts say last year's flooding is a clear sign that weather systems across the Gulf are shifting. According to Dr Fenech, Dubai's average annual rainfall has increased by 40 per cent in recent decades, while the wider GCC region has seen a 20 per cent rise over the past 20 years. 'This increase aligns with projections that a warmer atmosphere due to climate change can hold more moisture, leading to more intense rainfall events,' said Dr Fenech, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his work with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. He warned that short, intense downpours like those experienced in April 2024 are now more likely, particularly during El Nino years, the name given to when warmer waters in the Pacific shift global rainfall patterns. Scientific analysis suggests that downpours during these years have become 10 to 40 per cent heavier in the region due to climate change. Experts attribute the 2024 flood to a convergence of weather systems. Abdulla Al Mandous, director general of the UAE's National Centre of Meteorology, says last year's storm was triggered by a warm, moisture-laden air mass from the south colliding with a cold upper atmosphere. 'The resulting differential temperatures and humidity levels facilitated cloud formation, particularly the development of cumulonimbus clouds, which are capable of producing intense rainfall due to their vertical development and latent heat release,' Dr Al Mandous told The National. But the deeper issue lies in a climate system that is no longer behaving predictably. Dubai's new stormwater drainage project is designed to address that problem by channelling water more efficiently away from urban centres to prevent surface flooding and reduce the risk of economic disruption. But experts say that infrastructure alone will not be enough. Artificial intelligence is being touted as a key part of the city's adaptation strategy. Naji Atallah, Europe, Middle East and Africa head of construction and manufacturing at Autodesk, says AI can simulate flood events, test urban planning scenarios and process huge collections of data to enable faster, more effective decisions. 'The value of AI lies in its ability to process vast data sets quickly – from rainfall intensity to land use patterns – helping city planners and engineers develop solutions that are both resilient and resource-efficient,' he said. 'As this region continues to urbanise at pace, investing in such smarter infrastructure will be key to mitigating environmental risk while meeting future demand.' 'Dubai's investment in a citywide stormwater network reflects a growing recognition that water resilience is critical to future-proofing our cities,' said Michael Nielsen, regional director at Danish pump manufacturer Grundfos. 'As we witness more frequent and intense weather events across the region, it's no longer enough to rely on conventional infrastructure. Urban water systems must be reimagined to adapt to a more unpredictable climate.' An Abu Dhabi company has created a forecasting system that could change how authorities and businesses prepare for extreme weather. The National Centre of Meteorology told The National that it forecasts about seven days in advance, but the new system from G42 with global chip maker Nvidia is said to increase that capability to 14 days. Antonios Vouloudis, senior director of sustainability and stewardship at NYU Abu Dhabi, told The National that this would provide 'ample time for authorities and businesses to implement necessary measures'. Newton Rebello, marketing director at Inception, a G42 subsidiary, explained that the real value, however, is not in the speed of the forecast, but in the quality of the resolution used to make the prediction. 'Clearer resolution equals better prediction. This is a massive improvement,' he said. Dr Al Mandous said: 'AI-powered weather forecasting has the potential to revolutionise high-quality, high-resolution weather and disaster management solutions, particularly in this accelerating phase of climate change. 'By enhancing prediction accuracy and enabling hyper-local, real-time forecasts, this technology empowers better decision-making and strengthens resilience against climate challenges.' Mr Vouloudis added that such technology 'can enable cities to make informed decisions for smarter urban planning to manage heavy rain, heatwaves and other climate risks'. Such tools could also be used to warn commuters about flooding on their routes, help parents to plan outdoor activities for their children and enable businesses to minimise disruptions. Beyond the UAE, G42 is also exploring the expansion of its technology in climate-vulnerable regions such as Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia.
Al Etihad
24-03-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Masdar to expand Endesa Partnership in Dh1.4 billion renewable energy transaction, strengthening presence on Iberian Peninsula
24 Mar 2025 22:59 MADRID (WAM)Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar, the UAE's clean energy leader, announced today an agreement with Endesa S.A. to acquire a 49.99 percent stake in four solar plants in Spain, with a total capacity of 446 megawatts (MW). The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions, would see Masdar invest Dh702 million (€184 million) for the stake in the assets, which have an enterprise value of Dh1.4 billion (€368 million).These operating assets mark a significant milestone in Masdar's continued growth in the Iberian Peninsula and across Europe, and further its commitment to advancing the region's renewable energy ambitions. The proposed acquisition follows last year's agreement between Masdar and Endesa to partner in a portfolio of over 2GW of solar assets, with the potential to add 0.5GW of battery storage, in one of Spain's biggest renewable energy transactions in recent Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, said: "This acquisition further reflects Masdar's commitment to supporting Europe's decarbonisation goals and advancing the global energy transformation. It also marks another significant step in our strategic expansion in the Iberian Peninsula and Europe, adding to our growing portfolio on the continent. Strengthening our partnership with Endesa positions us to unlock new renewable energy opportunities across Europe and beyond, while driving sustainable growth and boosting prosperity.''With this transaction, we are renewing the cooperation launched last year with a major player such as Masdar,' Flavio Cattaneo, Enel Group CEO, said. 'The agreement signed today demonstrates our commitment to accelerate the energy transition also in partnership with large international industrial groups, in line with our Strategic Plan.'Masdar's continued partnership with Endesa is expected to play a significant role in helping Spain meet its National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) targets. Last year, Masdar also acquired Saeta, an established renewables platform with an operating portfolio of 745MW of predominantly wind assets, and a 1.6GW development pipeline in Spain and Portugal. This latest transaction brings Masdar's total operational capacity in the Iberian Peninsula to 3.2GW. Masdar is committed to supporting the EU reach its 2050 net-zero targets. Last month, Masdar and global energy leader Enel Group, to which Endesa belongs, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore potential renewable energy opportunities in countries including Italy, Spain, and Germany.
Khaleej Times
09-03-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Shifting investor, tenant preferences fuel Dubai realty boom
Dubai's real estate market is experiencing a significant surge, driven by shifting preferences among investors and tenants, according to analysts at Property Finder, a leading property portal. In February, the market recorded a remarkable 35 per cent annual increase in transactions, totalling 16,099 deals, along with a staggering 55 per cent rise in total market value, reaching Dh51.1 billion. When it comes to apartments, a substantial 71 per cent of buyers are gravitating toward smaller units. Specifically, 34 per cent are seeking one-bedroom apartments, while 37 per cent are focused on two-bedroom configurations. The demand for studios remains stable at 13 per cent. Notably, prime locations such as Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai, and Palm Jumeirah are dominating the searches, as investors prioritise luxury and connectivity. On the villa front, the demand for larger spaces is evident. A striking 86 per cent of villa seekers are interested in three-bedroom (39 per cent) or four-bedroom-plus properties (47 per cent), reflecting a growing preference for family-oriented living. Areas like Dubai Hills Estate, Damac Hills 2, and Al Furjan are topping the lists, showcasing a desire for community amenities and affordability. The tenant side of the market is also evolving. A significant shift has been observed among renters, with 64 per cent now opting for furnished apartments, a notable increase from 45 per cent in 2024. This trend is largely driven by expatriates seeking convenience. Among renters, 56 per cent are focusing on studios (20 per cent) or one-bedroom apartments (36 per cent), indicating budget-consciousness. In terms of rental hotspots, Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), Deira, and Business Bay are attracting the most interest. For villa rentals, while unfurnished options still dominate (58 per cent), the demand for furnished villas has risen sharply to 42 per cent, compared to 36 per cent in the previous year. Space remains a priority, with 80 per cent of renters seeking three-bedroom (41 per cent) or larger villas, particularly in sought-after areas like Jumeirah, Dubai Hills Estate, and Al Furjan. The report also highlights a booming off-plan market, with transaction values soaring 57 per cent year-on-year to Dh20.5 billion. Key areas driving this growth include Wadi Al Safa 5 and Al Yufrah 1, with significant sales recorded at Dh2.2 billion and Dh1.4 billion, respectively. Meanwhile, the ready market remains resilient, with existing property transactions rising by 27 per cent to 6,997, led by high-profile properties such as the Burj Khalifa and Al Yelayiss 1. Cherif Sleiman, chief revenue officer at Property Finder, said Dubai's market is maturing, with investor and tenant preferences shaping inventory strategies. 'The spike in furnished apartments and off-plan investments reflects Dubai's appeal to global talent and entrepreneurs seeking turnkey solutions. Meanwhile, villa demand highlights the city's growing reputation as a family destination. Regulatory initiatives, like streamlined business setups, are amplifying this momentum, making Dubai a magnet for long-term capital.' According to realty experts, this evolving market landscape carries significant implications. Investors are balancing high-yield opportunities in studio and one-bedroom apartments with luxury villa projects in emerging suburbs. Tenants, on the other hand, increasingly value flexibility, with furnished units minimising relocation costs for transient professionals. 'Developers and landlords must adapt to the polarized demand, focusing on compact, ready-to-move-in apartments versus spacious, customizable villas,' the report said.
Khaleej Times
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Ryan Reynolds references wife Blake Lively's legal drama on SNL
Actor Ryan Reynolds made a subtle nod to his wife Blake Lively's ongoing legal drama with Justin Baldoni during the Saturday Night Live (SNL) 50th anniversary special. The actor, who was in attendance with Lively, was asked how he was doing by former cast members Tina Fey and Amy Poehler during a Q and A segment. Reynolds replied, "Great!" before adding, "Why, what have you heard?" The comment was met with a brief, stern look from Lively, who has been embroiled in a legal battle with Baldoni, her co-star and director on the film It Ends With Us. Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and launching a smear campaign against her, while Baldoni has filed a $400 million (Dh1.4 billion) lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds, alleging extortion and defamation. The SNL 50th anniversary special, which aired on Sunday, featured a star-studded lineup of former cast members, hosts, and musical guests. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Q and A segment with Fey and Poehler also included appearances by Tim Meadows, Cher, Quinta Brunson, Keith Richards, and Jon Hamm, among others. The special also featured Steve Martin's opening monologue and musical performances by Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon.
